MANE SHPP PROJECT LACKS DATA IMPORTANT FOR EXPERTISE
14:52 February 11, 2015
EcoLur
“Mane” SHPP construction project is undergoing environmental
expertise. Under the environmental substantiation of the project,
“Mane” SHPP will be constructed on the Vorotan River, Syunik Region.
The environmental substantiation doesn’t describe SHPP structures, the
most important of which is fish passway from environmental viewpoint.
It even doesn’t mention the environmental flow planned for SHPP
operation, the hydrological description of the Vorotan, fish species
in the Vorotan River, the impact of the project on the fish species,
annual production of electricity, SHPP project affected communities,
the amount of harmful substances emitted into environment during
construction etc. That is, all the data needed for environmental
expertise are missing. The document, as such, comprises of evaluations
and conclusions. According to these evaluations, the negative
impact of “Mane” SHPP on nature will be almost zero, as an already
existing water scheme will be used. The project also says that as an
alternative mean “Mane” SHPP will promote emissions polluting air in
Armenia, which is explained in the document as follows: “In parallel
with SHPP electricity production decreases electricity production by
thermal power plants, and consequently, the amount of toxic emissions
generating from gas combustion.” The project outlines in case of
“Mane” SHPP construction, the new constructed thermal power plant
in Yerevan won’t annually burn 1446 tons of fuel and won’t emit into
environment 12.5 kg of carbon dioxide, 15350 kg of nitrogen oxide.
Hrazdan TPP won’t annually burn 2892 tons of fuel and wont’ emit into
environment 15.0 kg of carbon dioxide and 13 tons of nitrogen oxide.
A question arises here: whether there is arrangement with thermal
power plant to reduce their production in parallel with the increase
of SHPP number?
“The material was developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in the
sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue between
civil society and the Ministry of Nature Protection for sustainable
use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme”.